Heating device



Dec. 22, 1953 c. z. ALEXANDER HEATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.18, 1952 5 Q Y mm M M m WM 7 If A l- A M z a Dec. 22, 1953 c. z.ALEXANDER HEATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1952 INVENTOR.

5 v e E M M N 0 m Mw E A p Aw m c Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HEATING DEVICE Carl Z. Alexander, Chatham, NJ.

Application February 18, 1952, Serial No. 272,174

4 Claims. I

This invention relates to improvements in heating devices and moreparticularly to improvements in domestic hot water heating devices.

It is an object of the instant invention to. provide a. domestic hotwater heating device in which the hot water is circulated throughout thesystem by other than pumps or the natural tendency of hot water to riseand cold water to fall.

A further object. is to. provide a domestic hot water device simple tooperate and readily serviced.

Another object is to decrease capital investment in hot water heatingsystems Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent inthe course of the following specification.

In the attainment of the aforesaid objectives, subject heating device orunit is. constituted of a hollow inner chamber with open bottom anddome-shaped top. An outlet is made at the apex of the dome-shaped topand a portion of the rim adjacent the open bottom is removed to form an.inlet. A hollow outer chamber with open bottom is inserted in spacedrelationship over the inner chamber. In the top. of the outer chamber isan outlet aligned with the outlet of the inner chamber while a returninlet is formed in the outer chamber adjacent the open bottom. A nippleis. inserted in the outlet or the inner chamber and extended through thealigned out-v let. of the outer chamber but in spaced relationshiptherewith. The outlet of the outer chamber isconnected by a pipe line,through a radiator system, to the return inlet thereof. Both chambets.are mounted on a common base in which is formed a water supply inletleading into the hollow interior of the inner chamber. An electricalheating-unit is inserted in the inner chamber and the entire systemfilled with water through the water supply inlet. The heating unitraises the; temperature of the water in the inner chainher to a pointwhere it is expelled by thermo syphonic action through the outlet toreplace the. water in the; radiator system at a lower temperature withwater at a higher temperature. The; r pl c d water is returned to theouter chamber through the return inlet and thence flows through theremoved portion of the rim of the inner chamber to the interior thereoffor a repetition of the cycle. Where the heat requirementisgreater thanthe output of one unit, several' units are connected in parallel.

This invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription when taken 2 in conjunction with the, accompanyingdrawingsshowing by way of illustration the preferred embodiments of theinventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the thermo-syphonic heating device or unitconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along 2-2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a plurality of the thcrmo-syphonicheating devices or units shown in Figure 1 connected in parallel withthe radiators of a heat distributing system.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings where like referencenumerals indicatev like parts, reference numeral HI indicates one of theheating devices or units.

Each device or unit In is constituted in part of an inner chamber H anda coasting outer chamber I 2'.

Each inner chamber H is a hollow body of substantially rectangular formwith open bottom and a dome-shaped top or cover [3. The rectangular bodyis formed with a set of spaced parallel side members l4 and t5 and thespaced parallel end members l6 and H, said members being secured alongcorresponding edges in a known manner. The dome-shaped top or cover I 3maybeintegral'ly formed with the corresponding upper edges of the sideand end members or otherwise secured thereto. Each side and end memberis cut away or removed adjacent the open bottom and intermediate the endextremities of the member to form inlets, three of which are indicatedby the reference numerals l8, l8, and 20 in Figure 2. The domed-shapedtop or cover l3 has an outlet 2| formed therein at the apex.

side members may have the outwardly directed and integrally formedprotuberanoes, 22, 23, 24, and-25 formed thereon as an aid in properlypositioning or even holding the inner chamher in thev outer chamber aslater shown.

Each outer chamber I 2 is also a hollow body of substantiallyrectangular form with open bottom and a second dome-shaped top or cover26 (Fig. 2 The rectangular outer chamber is formed with a second set oispaced parallel side members '2! and 2.8 and spaced parallel end members29 and 30, the members being integrally formed along corresponding edgesor otherwise suitably attached. The second dome-shaped top or cover 26'is attached along the upper edges of the side and end members in a knownand suitable manner. In order that the outer chamber canbe inserted overthe inner chamber in spaced arrangement therewith, the height and lengthof the side and end members of the outer chamber is made greater thanthe dimensions of the corresponding members of the inner chamber., Thedome-shaped top or cover 26 has an outlet 3! aligned with and of greaterdiameter than the outlet 2! of the aforementioned inner chamber and theside member 30 (Fig. 2) has a return inlet 32 made therein which inletis adjacent the open bottom of the outer chamber.

A nipple 33 (Fig. 2) is attached in the outlet 21 of the inner chamberand extended upwardly through the aligned opening 3! of the outerchamber and in which it is in spaced or concentric arrangement,

Supporting the open bottoms of the inner and outer chambers is a basemembersd. Any suitable means (not shown) may be used for securing theinner chamber to the base member or the inner chamber may be secured inthe outer chamber as previously mentioned. In any event, the outerchamber is attached to the base member with the like bolts 35 or othersuitable fasteners. In the base member 34 and communicating with thehollow interior of the inner chamber is a water supply inlet 36.

Inserted in the inner chamber is is an electrical heating unit 37 ofknown type.

Around the outer chamber !2 is a heat insulating shell and securing theinsulating material 38 of the shell in place is any suitable closure 39as illustrated in Figure 2.

The outlet 31 of the outer chamber is connected in the usual manner by apipe line to a series of radiators schematically shown in the upper partof Figure 3, with the return from the last radiator connected to thereturn inlet 32 (Fig. 2) of the outer chamber I2.

For the production and distribution of heat beyond the capacity of anysingle unit, a plurality of units H! (Fig. 3) are used with the outlets3| of each outer chamber connected in parallel to a pipe line 65 (Fig.3) which conducts the hot water through the radiator system (R)illustrated and then returns the cooled water through a pipe line 4! forparallel distribution to the outer chamber of each unit through thereturn inlet thereof.

In the introduction of a water supply into the chamber or chambers andcorrelated heat distribution system, an expansion tank 42 is connectedat one end of a pipe line 43 which also introduces water into the innerchamber of each unit through the water supply inlet 36 thereof by thesimilar branch pipes 44 connected in parallel to the pipe line 43.

In operationr Y 1 'With thechambersand heat distribution system filledwith water and the electrical'heating unit 3! turned on, the water inthe inner chamber I I will become heated until expelled under pressurethrough the outlet 2!, thence through the nipple 33 to force water inthe pipe line to the radiators and away from the unit. Theexpelled waterin the inner chamber will then be replaced by water at a relatively lowtemperature returning. through the return inlet 32, and thence into theinner chamber i l for a repetition of the cycle. Bycentering the nipple33 in the pipe line, the expelled heated water out of the nipple willtend to draw the water between the chambers upwardly into the pipe lineto decrease the pressure on the water in the outer chamber and tofacilitate the return of the cooled water to the unit.

It would be possible to connect the outlet of one unit with the returninlet of the successive unit in order to preheat the water prior tobeing circulated in the heating system. Thus, it will be understood thatcertain features and subcombinations are of utility too, and may beemployed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Thisis contemplated by and is within the scope of the appended claims. It isfurther obvious that various changes may be made in details within thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.Hence, it is to be understood that subject invention is not to belimited to the specific details shown and described.

Whatis claimed is:

l. A thermo-syphonic heating device comprising an inner chamber, saidinner chamber having formed therein at least one outlet and one inletport, an outer chamber disposed substantially around said inner chamberand in spaced relationship therewith, said outer chamber having formedtherein a return inlet port and an outlet port, the outlet port of saidouter chamber being aligned with and having a greater cross sectionalarea than the outlet port of said inner chamber, a heat distributingpipe line interconnecting the outlet and return inlet ports of saidouter chamber, a nipple disposed in the outlet port of said innerchamber and protruding through the aligned outlet port of said outerchamber and into said ipe line in spaced relationship with the innersurface thereof, a heat ing unit disposed in said inner chamber, meansfor introducing water into said chambers and said pipe line, and anexpansion chamber coacting with said means for introducing water.

2. A thermo-syphonic heating device comprising an inner chamber, saidinner chamber comprising a set of spaced parallel side and. end memberssecured along corresponding edges and an open bottom and a dome-shapedcover member disposed over the corresponding edges of said side and endmembers, said cover member having formed therein an outlet portsubstantially at the apex and the bottom edge of at least one of saidspaced parallel members being cut away intermediate the end extremitiesthereof; the heating device further comprising an outer chamber coactingwith the inner chamber, said outer chamber comprising a second set ofspaced parallel side and end members secured along corresponding edgesand an open bottom, a sec- 0nd dome-shaped cover member disposed oversaid second set of corresponding edgesoi said second set of side and endmembers, said sec-' ond mentioned cover member having formed therein asecond outlet port of greater diameter than said first mentioned outletport, said 'sec-f ond set of side and end membersihavingia height andlength greater than that of the cor-'- responding members of said innerchamber, at least one of said second set of parallel members having areturn inlet formed therein, means for removably securing said innerchamber in the outer chamber with the first and second men' tionedoutlet ports substantially aligned and the side and end and covermembers of said cham bers in spaced relationship and the open bottoms inthe same plane, a common basemember for the open bottoms of saidchambers, said base member having a water supply inlet formed therein,means ior securing the open bottom of said outer chamber to said basemember with the open bottom of said inner chamber over the water supplyinlet, a pipe line interconnecting the outlet port and return inlet ofsaid outer chamber, a nipple disposed in the outlet port of said innerchamber and extending through the aligned outlet port of said outerchamber in spaced relationship with said pipe line, a heating unitdisposed in said inner chamber, and means for introducing water intosaid chambers and pipe line through the water supply inlet.

3. A thermo-syphonic heating device comprising a base member ofsubstantially rectangular form, said base member having a water supplyinlet formed therein, a hollow inner chamber with open bottom and closedtop disposed over the opening in said base member, the longitudinalcross sectional area of said inner chamber being of substantiallyrectangular form and having an area less than that of said base member,said edges of said inner chamber adjacent said base member beingpartially removed. and said closed top of said inner chamber having anoutlet port formed therein, the device further comprising an outerchamber with open bottom and closed top disposed on said base memberover and in spaced relationship with said inner chamber, the closed topof said outer chamber having formed therein an outlet port of greaterdiameter than and aligned with the outlet port of said inner chamber,said outer chamber further having a return inlet formed therein adjacentsaid base member, a pipe line interconnecting the outlet port and returninlet of said outer chamber, a nipple disposed in the outlet port ofsaid inner chamber and protruding through the outlet port of said outerchamber and into said pipe lin in spaced relationship with the innersurface thereof, an electrical heating unit disposed in said innerchamber, a Water supply for said chambers and pipe line, means forconnecting said water supply to the water supply inlet port in said basemember, and means for heat insulating the outer surface of said outerchamber.

4. A thermo-syphonic heating unit comprising a base member, said basemember having a plurality of spaced water supply inlet ports formedtherein, a heating unit coacting with each inlet port, each heating unitcomprising coacting inner and outer hollow chambers, said chambershaving open bottoms and closed tops, the open bottom of each innerchamber being over one of the Water supply inlet ports and a portion ofthe edge of each inner chamber adjacent the base member being removed,the closed top of each inner chamber having an outlet port formedtherein, each outer chamber being disposed over one of said innerchambers and on the base member and in spaced relationship with saidinner chamber, the closed top of each outer chamber having formedtherein an outlet port of greater diameter than and aligned with theoutlet port of the coacting inner chamber, the outer cham-- ber furtherhaving formed therein a return inlet port adjacent the base member, anippl disposed in the outlet port of each inner chamber and protrudingsubstantially through and in spaced relationship with the outlet port ofthe coacting outer chamber, a pipe line interconnecting the outlet portof each outer chamber in parallel with the inlet port of each outerchamber, means for introducing water into each of the coacting chambersthrough the water supply inlet port thereof, an expansion tank coactingwith said means for introducing water into each of the coactingchambers, and an electrical heating unit disposed in each inner chamber.

CARL Z. ALEXANDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 393,142 Burton July 14, 1908 1,509,810 MacIndoe Sept. 23, 19241,654,396 Abbott Dec. 27, 1927 1,715,520 Shuman June 4, 1929 1,852,252McIntosh Apr. 5, 1932

